NEW YORK — The collateral consequence of scandal often is newfound celebrity, and for the 22-year-old call girl involved in the Eliot Spitzer scandal, prospects are rising.
The prostitute identified in court papers as "Kristen" is an aspiring musician named Ashley Alexandra Dupre. Her identity was first reported only Wednesday, but already her fame is skyrocketing.
Curious about the woman so integral in the New York governor's downfall, many have flocked to MySpace to view her photos, music and biographical information.
That material was removed Thursday after over more than 5 million visited her page.
In addition, Penthouse and Hustler are already knocking on her door.
Dupre's page had portrayed her as a New Jersey native who left a broken home to pursue a music career in New York. Court papers allege that Spitzer paid thousands of dollars for her services with the Emperor's Club VIP.
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"I have been alone," she wrote. "I have abused drugs. I have been broke and homeless. But I survived on my own. I am here in N.Y. because of my music."
Dupre had also posted two songs at the music-sharing site Aime Street, which allows musicians to earn a 70 percent cut of download fees. The fees are determined by popularity.
The songs, "What You Want" and "Move Ya Body" are dance-pop tunes a la Britney Spears.
As of Thursday evening, the songs had been listened to by 200,000. Downloads were selling for 98 cents each, though "What We Want" had previously been selling for less than 20 cents. That song was also making it onto the nation's radio airwaves.
Hustler, Penthouse interested
"She's young. She's pretty. She's a model," said Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt. "We would love to do business with her, and we will approach her."
Penthouse has been trying to reach out to Dupre, too, but had yet to make contact Thursday afternoon.
Penthouse Magazine Group President and Publisher Diane Silberstein said she would "love to have her in the magazine" and would consider offering her a cover shot.
"She sounds like a very interesting and talented young woman, and I'm sure she has a great story to tell," Silberstein said. "We promise to make it worth her while."
Flynt, who last June took out a full-page advertisement in The Washington Post offering $1 million for anyone who could prove he or she had illicit sexual relations with a prominent politician, suggested that by the time Dupre starts talking she may be too big a media phenomenon for a simple magazine spread.
"She is no doubt going to do a book. There will probably be a movie," he said. "I think she is going to have so many offers coming in that it will probably be wishful thinking just to get in the door."
